Investigators questioned Yadav and his nephew Manish Yadav after a Faizabad court granted police custody for 39 hours. The questioning focused on the missing donations, the movement of cash and the suspected involvement of people who worked inside the temple’s collection system.
Yadav allegedly disclosed that he possessed keys to donation boxes, locally known as hundis, and had access to the control room. Police are examining how he obtained those privileges despite having no formal authorisation to manage keys or enter areas used for securing and counting offerings.
The disclosures have strengthened the investigators’ view that the theft was not an isolated act. The suspected operation appears to have depended on knowledge of security arrangements, counting schedules and the movement of offerings from donation boxes to the counting room.
Police are seeking to establish who allowed Yadav into restricted sections of the temple complex and whether employees or volunteers helped him bypass established procedures. Investigators are also comparing his statements with surveillance footage, duty records, access logs and accounts given by other accused.
The remand period was sought to trace the remaining cash and confront Yadav and Manish with evidence gathered during searches. Investigators believe the two can provide information about where the money was kept, how it was divided and whether part of it was converted into jewellery, vehicles or other assets.
Eight people have been arrested in the case. They include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav. Their judicial custody has been extended until July 27.
The case was registered after a preliminary inquiry by a Special Investigation Team identified suspected theft, breach of trust and conspiracy in the handling of devotees’ offerings. The complaint was filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Police have recovered cash, jewellery and a vehicle while examining dozens of bank accounts linked to the accused and their relatives. The financial scrutiny is intended to determine whether deposits, purchases or transfers correspond with periods when donations are suspected to have disappeared.
Investigators are also looking at cash recovered from different locations and statements about amounts allegedly concealed after being removed from the temple complex. Yadav’s questioning is expected to help police identify additional properties and accounts that may contain diverted money.
The suspected theft came to light after ₹40,000 was found inside a washroom at the temple premises. The discovery prompted a wider examination of collection and counting procedures, exposing gaps in supervision, key management and documentation.
The inquiry found that donation boxes could allegedly be accessed without a complete record of who held their keys. Questions were also raised over the absence of effective checks when boxes were opened and cash was transferred for counting.
The Special Investigation Team, headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, has sought additional time to complete its investigation. The three-member panel was constituted on June 13 and is examining administrative responsibility alongside possible criminal conduct.
Its findings have pointed to multiple failures in the system created to protect offerings. Investigators are assessing whether the weaknesses resulted from negligence, informal working arrangements or deliberate changes intended to facilitate the removal of cash.
The temple trust has tightened donation-handling procedures since the allegations surfaced. Revised measures include stricter identity verification, closer monitoring of counting personnel, digital tracking and tighter control over access to donation boxes and secure rooms.
